oligarchy
noun/ˈɑlɪˌɡɑrki/
Frequency rank: #15,041 most common English word
Meaning
a form of government in which a small group of people holds all the power.

Example sentence
The small nation was governed as oligarchy, with power held by just a handful of wealthy families.
Synonyms & related words
- autocracy
- plutocracy
- dictatorship
- tyranny
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